AHRQ Supports Anti-Bioterrorism Research and Planning

Press Release Date: October 18, 2000

The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) today announced new support for assessing and improving the U.S. health care system's capacity to respond to possible incidents of bioterrorism. This $5 million initiative, focusing on clinical preparedness of health care providers and health care systems, is part of a broad effort by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and other federal agencies against bioterrorism.

The initiative will examine the clinical training and ability of front-line medical staff, including primary care providers, emergency departments, and hospitals, to detect and respond to a bioterrorist threat. This initiative also will focus on research on the use of information and decision support systems to enhance clinical preparedness in the event of a bioterrorist threat and will assess and improve linkages between the health system, local and state public health departments, and emergency preparedness units.

AHRQ Director John M. Eisenberg, M.D., said, "A bioterrorist event could pose unprecedented challenges to our health care system. This research will help clinicians, hospitals, and other parts of the health care system detect and respond more quickly in the event of a bioterrorist incident. We need to think about how we would handle the unthinkable."

AHRQ will use several mechanisms to accomplish these goals, including research contracts, evidence reports, primary care practice-based research networks, and integrated delivery system research networks. Components of AHRQ's comprehensive anti-bioterrorism portfolio include:

Bioterrorism Response Contracts and Topic Assignments

These contracts are part of a concerted strategy to examine the clinical preparedness of key medical staff in responding to potential bioterrorist threats:

Projects at Evidence-based Practice Centers

AHRQ currently funds research at 12 Evidence-based Practice Centers (EPCs) in the United States and Canada. These EPCs systematically review and analyze all relevant scientific literature on assigned clinical care topics, produce evidence reports and technology assessments, conduct research on methodologies and the effectiveness of their implementation, and participate in technical assistance activities. The following EPC projects have a specific focus on bioterrorism:

Projects at Primary Care Practice-Based Research Networks

AHRQ recently funded 19 Primary Care Practice-Based Research Networks (PBRNs) nationwide. PBRNs are groups of ambulatory practices devoted principally to patient care, but which are affiliated with each other to investigate questions related to community-based practice. These PBRNs will explore the role of primary care providers in clinical preparedness for a bioterrorist event:

Integrated Delivery System Research Network Projects

AHRQ also recently funded an Integrated Delivery System Research Network (IDSRN), which is a new model of field-based research designed to link the nation's top researchers with some of its largest health care systems to conduct fast-track research on cutting-edge issues. The IDSRN will explore the role of integrated delivery systems in clinical preparedness for a bioterrorist event:

Conference Support Grant

AHRQ will be also provide support, along with other federal partners, to fund a bioterrorism symposium sponsored by the Center for Civilian Biodefense Studies at Johns Hopkins University. Total Funding: $25,000.

For more information, please contact AHRQ Public Affairs, (301) 427-1364: Farah Englert, (301) 427-1865 (FEnglert@ahrq.gov).


Internet Citation:

AHRQ Supports Anti-Bioterrorism Research and Planning. Press Release, October 18, 2000. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, Rockville, MD. http://www.ahrq.gov/news/press/pr2000/bioterpr.htm


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